How to Hire for Culture

Culture is the current buzz word when it comes to talent retention. To attract and retain the right people, employers are encouraged to create a work environment that is fun, engaging, and meaningful. Employees are more likely to stay with a company that cares about the work environment.

To maintain the culture that you work so hard to create, you need to hire the right people. Screening for cultural fit is an essential part of the hiring process. When employee and company values are in sync, you’ll achieve a greater sense of harmony.

To help you make the right hire, there are some important questions to ask candidates – and yourself:

Questions to ask the candidates

In addition to interviewing for competencies, many organizations add a layer of questioning to get to know candidates on a more personal level. Ask few questions that don’t relate to work to gauge how they’ll fit in with your culture and existing staff. Consider asking questions like:

What do you do in your spare time?

What is your favorite movie?

What is the last book you read?

Behavioral questions can also provide insight into a person’s character and belief system. Compare the responses to your company’s core values. This will give you an idea of how well the candidate aligns with your culture.

Questions to ask yourself

To help you determine how well the candidate will fit within your company, ask yourself these questions:

Does the candidate have the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for this job?

What experiences have prepared the applicant for this job?

Will this person be challenged in this role?

Are the applicant’s values and beliefs in harmony with the values of our organization?

Will the person naturally perform in ways that are consistent with how we do things here?

Finally, remember that cultural cohesiveness does not end after hire. You need to continually invest and nurture your company culture to see long-term success.